Events

Summer Garden Party with Alice Walker- September 17, 2017

Flyer for Alice Walker Garden Party

RJOY invites you to our annuL Summer Garden party, featuring novelist, poet, activist, spiritualist and National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize recipient, the legendary Alice Walker. Join us for an intimate and uplifting afternoon. RJOY youth will offer dramatic readings and interpretations of her soulful and groundbreaking creative work.

This event will be held Sunday, September 17, 2017 from 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm at the Lake Temescal Beach House.

National Association of Community and Restorative Justice: Sixth National Conference – June 16-18, 2017

NACRJ 2017 Conference Oakland, CA

Please join practitioners and scholars from around the world at the 2017 Sixth National Conference of the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice in Oakland, CA at the Oakland Marriott. Hosted by Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY), this year’s theme is Moving Restorative Justice from Margins to Center — elevating historically marginalized voices, promoting radical inclusivity and healing, and exploring the intersections of RJ with other contemporary social justice movements. With healing spaces, circles, youth-led activities, field trips as well as plenaries and panels, we are planning a provocative, participatory, and creative conference in Oakland, the birthplace of the Black Panther Party, and an international cultural and culinary mecca. We look forward to your participation. Please note: We will consider session proposals from August 25 through November 15, 2016. Pre-conference workshops take place on June 15. SAVE THE DATE AND SEE YOU IN OAKLAND NEXT JUNE!

2-day Conflict Circle Training- May 25th-26th, 2017

This is an intermediate to advanced level restorative justice circle training focused on gaining proficiency in facilitating Conflict Circles. At minimum, all participants must have already completed an Intro RJ training and/or have equivalent experience in facilitating Community Building Circles. Participants in this 2-day training will: review RJ theory, practice, data, and protocols for community-building circles, and be introduced to, learn protocol for, and gain skills in facilitating conflict circles. The 2-dya training will emphasize interactivity, relationship-building, and skills-building. Much of the second day will be devoted to simulated exercises to acquire skills in facilitating conflict circles. Trainers will include an experienced RJ School Coordinator along with seasoned community and juvenile justice based practitioners.2-day Intro to RJ Training- March 30th-31st, 2017

This training will introduce Restorative Justice principles and cover the basics of Restorative Justice Circle practice. Upon completion, participants will be able to facilitate community-building circles.

This training will provide foundational knowledge about what restorative justice is, what circles are, and how they are being used in schools, communities, and in the juvenile justice system, particularly in Oakland. Participants will learn circle theory as well as gain practical skills in using the restorative justice circle process through interactive exercises. Also, the training itself will utilize the circle process. Upon completion, participants will be able to facilitate community building circles. The training will provide 12 hours of training time over two days, and all participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

This training will also be a foundational training for anyone interested in facilitating or co-facilitating RJOY’s Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA’s) to assist previously incarcerated youth re-integrate into their communities in positive and healthy ways.

2-day Intro to Restorative Justice Training- May 18th-19th, 2016

This training will introduce Restorative Justice principles and cover the basics of Restorative Justice Circle practice. Upon completion, participants will be able to facilitate community-building circles.

This training will provide foundational knowledge about what restorative justice is, what circles are, and how they are being used in schools, communities, and in the juvenile justice system, particularly in Oakland. Participants will learn circle theory as well as gain practical skills in using the restorative justice circle process through interactive exercises. Also, the training itself will utilize the circle process. Upon completion, participants will be able to facilitate community building circles. The training will provide 12 hours of training time over two days, and all participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

This training will also be a foundational training for anyone interested in facilitating or co-facilitating RJOY’s Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA’s) to assist previously incarcerated youth re-integrate into their communities in positive and healthy ways.

Using inter-generational, deliberative dialogues and workshops, the Words of Fire Conference will promote justice, healing and political action to encourage Black women’s participation in national movements that bridge differences across race, ethnicity, sexuality, economic status and other intersections. The Words of Fire Conference deploys a strategy that reinvigorates a call for resistance and urgent communal care for women, girls, and transgender/gender nonconforming people so that we can thrive, survive and move into the next phase of the movements for women’s rights and racial justice.

University of Miami School of Law – Race and Social Justice Law Review Symposium- Mar 3rd, 2017 (F. Davis)

The 2-day Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation CORE training is an introduction to the philosophy of Kingian Non-violence. It teaches the six principles and steps of KIngian Non-Violence, as well as basic ideas, strategies, and tools of conflict reconciliation. Conflict is inevitable, however, the training teaches us how to identify and address conflict in a way that addresses the root cause of the conflict and encourages us to creatively and strategically develop a win-win outcome that leads to reconciliation. The training includes reading two of Dr. King’s seminal writings, viewing and discussing films documenting different campaigns within the Civil Rights Movement, mini-lectures, interactive small group activities, and role-playing. The principles are also taught through music and participants are encouraged to create their own songs. The training is helpful in a variety of settings to address individual, group, institutional and systematic conflicts. We explore four different types and levels of conflict and de-escalation; the definitions and differences between violence and non-violence; negative peace and positive peace;Dr. King’s philosophies as demonstrated through his writings and the application in four campaigns during the Civil Rights Movement; and the principles (the will) and the steps (the skill) of Kingian Non-violence. We then put our knowledge in action to begin to practice the first step of Kingian Non-violence in order to transform our communities.

Movement to End the New Jim Crow: Reimagining Justice – Feb 23, 2017

The event will include a conversation with Dorsey Nunn and Zachary Norris from the Ella Baker Center. The event will be moderated by Aya de Leon (faculty at UC Berkeley in African American Studies and Director, Poetry for the People).

2-day Conflict Circle Training- Feb 1st-2nd, 2017

This is an intermediate to advanced level restorative justice circle training focused on gaining proficiency in facilitating Conflict Circles. At minimum, all participants must have already completed an Intro RJ training and/or have equivalent experience in facilitating Community Building Circles. Participants in this 2-day training will: review RJ theory, practice, data, and protocols for community-building circles, and be introduced to, learn protocol for, and gain skills in facilitating conflict circles. The 2-dya training will emphasize interactivity, relationship-building, and skills-building. Much of the second day will be devoted to simulated exercises to acquire skills in facilitating conflict circles. Trainers will include an experienced RJ School Coordinator along with seasoned community and juvenile justice based practitioners.

2-day Intro to Restorative Justice Training- Dec 15-16th, 2016

This training will introduce Restorative Justice principles and cover the basics of Restorative Justice Circle practice. Upon completion, participants will be able to facilitate community-building circles.

This training will provide foundational knowledge about what restorative justice is, what circles are, and how they are being used in schools, communities, and in the juvenile justice system, particularly in Oakland. Participants will learn circle theory as well as gain practical skills in using the restorative justice circle process through interactive exercises. Also, the training itself will utilize the circle process. Upon completion, participants will be able to facilitate community building circles. The training will provide 12 hours of training time over two days, and all participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

This training will also be a foundational training for anyone interested in facilitating or co-facilitating RJOY’s Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA’s) to assist previously incarcerated youth re-integrate into their communities in positive and healthy ways.

Sunday Suppers East Bay — RJOY @ The Dock, September 21st, 2014

Enjoy a delicious meal while supporting a great cause! Sunday Suppers is a new series of gatherings in celebration and support of community organizations located in the East Bay. Created by restaurateur Charlie Hallowell, in collaboration with event coordinator Lauren Greis, the goal of ‘Sunday Suppers’ is to raise money each month for a different East Bay organization working on behalf of the community. Please join us Sunday, September 21st for an amazing $60 meal at The Dock, a new, exquisite and casual restaurant with world class cuisine. All of the profits from ticket sales will be donated to RJOY. Space is limited.

Invitation to RJOY Fundraiser at Home of Angela Y. Davis

Dear RJOY Supporter,

We are delighted to announce RJOY’s donor cultivation reception to be held at the home of social justice icon Angela Y. Davis on Sunday, June 22, 2014 from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm. We will have food, drinks, spoken word, drumming, dancing, performances by youth, and opportunities to bid for auction items. Space is limited to the first 120 people who reserve a ticket. Tickets cost $200. You may reserve your ticket by emailing us at events@rjoyoakland.org or click on the button below to purchase your ticket.

The conference is hosted by the University of Vermont and will offer an international slate of keynote speakers, educational, training and networking opportunities for practitioners in the emerging field of regulatory affairs as well as those more familiar with the flourishing range of restorative justice practices. Daily panels will bring together presenters who address the complex issues of power and privilege that sustain exploitive and harmful behaviors in different social environments and propose creative solutions.

RJOY Executive Director, Fania. E. Davis, will be presenting on July 18th for a session on “Racial Violence, Violence Prevention, and Restorative Practice.”

Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY) is offering a one-day interactive seminar, Transforming Historical Harms and their Legacies. The training will be facilitated by David Anderson Hooker, an Attorney, Mediator, Senior Fellow for Community Engagement Strategies at the University of Georgia and Associate Professor of Conflict Studies at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, Eastern Mennonite University.

Participants will examine the theoretical underpinnings and practical strategies of the Transforming Historical Harms (THH) framework; survey current examples of the THH framework and of transitional justice strategies, including U.S. initiatives addressing slavery, racial violence, and forced removal and assimilation of Native American children. The interactive aspects of the workshop allow participants to explore applications of THH strategies to address such issues as criminalization and dehumanization of African-American and Latino youth, mass historical harms and legacies of slavery, lynching, racial violence, immigration policies, genocide against Native Americans and other structural and cultural violence.

Cost of the one-day training is $100.

If you are interested in attending this training, please fill out this online application here.

For further info, please contact Neely Upamaka at neely@rjoyoakland.org

Trainer Bio

David Anderson Hooker is Senior Fellow for Community Engagement Strategies at the JW Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia. He also serves as Associate Professor of Conflict Transformation at Eastern Mennonite University. For more than 30 years Hooker has been a mediator, facilitator, and community organizer. He has worked throughout the United States, focusing on issues of restorative justice, environmental justice, post-conflict racial reconciliation, community development, democratization, and multiparty conflict resolution. Hooker has also worked in Bosnia/Croatia, Cuba, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, Southern Sudan, and Zimbabwe. He holds a law degree from Emory University’s School of Law, a Masters of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology, Masters of Public Health and Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, a Masters of Minority Mental Health from Washington University in St. Louis, and a BS from Morehouse College. He is completing his PhD in Social Construction at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. He has served as a consultant on such transitional justice and racial reconciliation initiatives as Coming to the Table (Virginia), Welcome Table (Mississippi) and the Counter Stories Project (North Carolina).

Envisioning a Restorative Oakland- Discussion with Dan Siegel

Tuesday, April 22nd 6-8pm DeFemery Rec Center (18th and Adeline)

How can the circle process inform city policy? What do we mean when we say a “Restorative Oakland”? What concrete policies will help create a restorative city? Join us for a discussion with Oakland mayoral candidate Dan Siegel to hear more about how restorative justice might impact and influence the realities of our city.

Snacks provided. Please RSVP to: lyssa.chen@gmail.com

Impact of Trauma, Abuse, and Neglect on Learning- Strategies for Creating Connections with Students in Schools and Classrooms

The Alameda County Office of Education will be hosting a FREE training with Lori Onderwyzer on Friday, April 11th from 8-4pm at their office. In this workshop, participants will help unpack the reasons for maladaptive behavior and the resulting challenges. Focus will be given to attachment and how it is developed, its relationship to the foundational building blocks of brain development, and the importance of these two aspects for learning.

“Working Together for Restorative Justice in the East Bay: A Day with RJ Practitioners”- May 9, 2014.

Mark your calendars for this event happening on May 9, 2014 at CSUEB, from 9am-4:30pm!

This event will feature Dr. Mark Umbreit from the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, University of Minnesota. It will also include three panel discussions and interactive sessions with current practitioners across disciplines: Social Work, Education, and Criminal Justice.

RJOY is hiring! Applications now accepted for part-time Administrative Assistant position. Deadline is March 28, 2014.

Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY), a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives, is seeking a responsible, organized and highly reliable individual for the Administrative Assistant position. The Administrative Assistant provides clerical and administrative support to ensure that the agency’s office functions flow smoothly and efficiently.

We anticipate the position will start in late May (2014) and will be for 21 hours per week. Salary dependent on experience. Benefits offered.

1. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
2. 1-3 years of office/administrative experience required.
3. Must be a quick learner and self-starter with strong organizational skills.
4. Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and be able to accurately and professionally represent our organization.
5. Ability to prioritize and multi-task with attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
6. Must be able to work well with others and be flexible and adaptable in a changing and sometimes high-pressure environment.
7. Highly proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel, email and internet- are required. Experience with social media, online databases, wordpress updating, email marketing and accounting software is desired.

To Apply:
Please send your cover letter and resume to jobs@rjoyoakland.org by March 28, 2014. Do include your full name and “administrative assistant” in the subject line.

Only complete applications (that include both a cover letter and resume) will be reviewed. Please note: only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

This course explores the historical emergence of restorative justice in the United States, its paradigmatic principles, and its indigenous, spiritual and biblical roots.

Examines the three primary restorative justice models: peacemaking circles, victim-offender conferences, and family group or community conferences.

Is highly participatory and interactive and concludes with demonstrations of practical applications of restorative justice practices by course participants, with critical reflections upon the promise and pitfalls of restorative justice principles.

To register for this course, please email: BGuess@allen-temple.org
*Cost is $150 for all 5 sessions, plus a $20 registration fee.

For questions or concerns, please contact:laurentigerfire3@gmail.com

Feb 28-March 1st, 2014: Basic Circle Training

This training will provide foundational knowledge about what restorative justice is, what Circles are, and how they are being used in schools, communities, and in the juvenile justice system, particularly in Oakland. Participants will learn Circle theory as well as gain practical skills in using the restorative justice circle process through interactive exercises. Also, the training itself will utilize the Circle process. Upon completion, participants will be able to facilitate community-building Circles. The training will provide 12 hours of training time (from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm) over two days, and all participants will receive a certificate upon completion.This training will also be a foundational training for anyone interested in facilitating or co-facilitating RJOY’s Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA’s) to assist previously incarcerated youth re-integrate into their communities in positive and healthy ways.Co-facilitators of the training are Yejide Ankobia, Eric Butler, and Kat Culberg. Yejide is a restorative justice trainer who for many years mentored formerly incarcerated youth. She previously worked with RJOY in East Oakland and is now working in the Hayward School District with SEEDS Community Resolution Center. Eric has been a Restorative Justice School Coordinator with RJOY since 2009. The successes of his work at Bunche H.S. in Oakland have recently drawn national media attention. Kat Culberg has facilitated Circles with formerly incarcerated youth and students at Castlemont H.S. She currently serves as Project Director for RJOY’s Circle of Support and Accountability program for re-entering youth.For questions or inquiries, please contact: neely@rjoyoakland.org

Kay Pranis, restorative justice pioneer and internationally renowned theoretician and practitioner of the Peacemaking Circle model, will facilitate two two-day Advanced Circle trainings in Oakland, California, October 15-18, 2013. You must first apply. If accepted, registration fee is $200 for one session (2 days) and $350 if you are accepted for both (4 days). Apply now.

Training Session Descriptions:Session A – Fundamentals of Circle Training – October 15-16, 2013. This is essentially a train-the-trainer session in which participants focus on Circle training content and process. Questions to be explored include: What is the key content? What are key objectives? What do we want to convey in the process of training? In what ways is training also a Circle and in what ways not? We will also explore use of non-verbal modalities in training, the trainer-trainee relationship, and ways of responding to challenges that may arise in your training. Moving into break-out groups, Participants will design a training for a range of time frames. Kay Pranis will share liberally from her rich experience as a trainer and Circle Keeper throughout the training process.

Session B – Advanced Circle Keeper Training: Topics and Inner Work – October 17-18, 2013. Session B explores advanced topics with a focus on the Circle Keeper’s inner work. We will explore designing questions and addressing challenges in Circle. We will also share techniques and strategies that worked well in Circle (e.g. openings, closings, powerful questions, etc.). This session relies heavily on participants having experience under their belt as facilitators to share stories that inform the dialogue. Three areas of focus for this training are: (i) self-awareness; (ii) firm and steady grounding in values; and (iii) challenges and techniques.

If you have questions or need further information, contact rjoy@rjoyoakland.org, 510.931.7569

Sunday, August 25, 2013: Restorative Justice Intern Needed

Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth is seeking an intern for the Fall and Spring!

Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY), founded in 2005, is an organization in Oakland that is dedicated to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline that exists in Oakland schools. Recently, we have also begun programs in conjunction with the Alameda County Juvenile Justice System. RJOY works to interrupt the cycles of youth violence, incarceration, and wasted lives by promoting institutional shifts toward restorative approaches that actively engage families, communities, and systems to repair harm and prevent re-offending.

This position is for 10-30 hours per week (flexible) for six to twelve months.

Duties include:

Helping to plan trainings and events

Conducting research for presentations and reports

Assist with the preparation of grant proposals and reports as needed

Attending meetings and trainings with Director as appropriate

Assist work at schools, with juvenile justice youth as needed

Assisting the Director with office tasks

Answering phone calls and taking messages

Website, Facebook, Twitter and other social media updates

Other tasks as needed

Minimum Qualifications:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Basic knowledge of social networking sites, HTML, and mailing lists.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Highly organized and detail-oriented

Goals of Internship:
Gain experience working with a non-profit
Interface with youth and youth-serving adults
Learn more about and experience restorative justice
Learn more about Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth and its mission
Please note that this is an unpaid internship; however, RJOY can provide documentation
for community service, earning course credit, etc.

If you are interested, please submit a resume and cover letter to rjoy@rjoyoakland.org by August 25th.

Sunday, September 1, 2013: Growing Fairness

“Growing Fairness is an upcoming documentary film, workshop series, and online toolkit resource for school communities to use as they begin the project of implementing restorative justice in classrooms. It tells the story of school climate, alternatives to punitive discipline, and the real impact of zero-tolerance on young people and school communities in New York and Oakland. The film and resources were created by Teachers Unite, one of the original members of the Dignity in Schools Campaign, and will be available in full starting September 2013.”